The arrested men have since been released while investigations continue.

The majority of those employed at the Bosahan farm are from Lithuania and Romania.

Fourteen of the workers chose to leave the farm after they were spoken to by police and other agencies.

The letter says they are being "treated well" and "the farmer has always been good to us and we feel that he has been treated very badly".

It states that a police officer "publicly stated that daffodil pickers at Bosahan Farm are being treated as modern slaves. As workers we contest this statement."

Allen Scrimshaw, from the farm, said: "My son Wolf and I have been so devastated by these allegations of modern slavery that we no longer wish to discuss it with anyone until any charges might be made.

"We would like to thank all the pickers for their continued support and all the messages we have received, not just from this country but all around the world."

'Wonderful place'

Justinus Stanislaus, a Lithuanian translator who is helping the group, said: "They want to prove to the world that they are not victims of modern slavery.

"It's a wonderful place to work and they are treated well. They refute everything that has been said in that respect".